Shloka 87

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

यत्तत्वं तस्य देवस्य तदज्ञातं सुरासुरैः । शाकयावकमूलैस्तु फलपिण्याकसक्तुभिः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

yattatvaṃ tasya devasya tadajñātaṃ surāsuraiḥ | śākayāvakamūlaistu phalapiṇyākasaktubhiḥ || 87 ||

Translation

A realidade essencial (tattva) desse Senhor divino é desconhecida até mesmo para devas e asuras; contudo, Ele deve ser adorado com oferendas simples—hortaliças, cevada, raízes, frutos, torta de óleo e farinha de grãos tostados.

Word by Word

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; correlating pronoun

• तत्त्वम्: true nature/reality
• तत्त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अज्ञातम्: unknown
• अज्ञातम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (ज्ञा-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; past passive participle used predicatively; agrees with ‘तत्त्वम्’

• सुर-असुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुर-असुरैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; द्वन्द्व-समास

• शाक-यावक-मूलैः: with vegetables, barley, and roots
• शाक-यावक-मूलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक) + यावक (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; त्रिपद-द्वन्द्व (list)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• फल-पिण्याक-सक्तुभिः: with fruits, oil-cake, and flour/gruel
• फल-पिण्याक-सक्तुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + पिण्याक (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; त्रिपद-द्वन्द्व (list)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Tirtha/vrata-mahatmya setting; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Asura

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes the Lord’s transcendence—His tattva is beyond even devas and asuras—yet He is approachable through sincere worship with simple, sattvic offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is shown as accessible: devotion does not depend on costly materials; humble naivedya offered with faith is presented as sufficient for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is implied (Kalpa/ācāra): specifying permissible, simple naivedya items for worship/vows, stressing purity and intention over extravagance.